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1999 Le Pin

From the critics:

94 WS

93 RP

93 VM

Critic Reviews

Delivers decadent aromas of meat and berry, with hints of new leather. Full-bodied, featuring very soft tannins and a long finish. The palate shows lots of richness. Very yummy now. Don’t wait. Unique and very seductive.--’89/’99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. 500 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 94 WS
This is an example of a wine that has gained considerable weight since I tasted it in 2000 and 2001. It is exotic and sexy, with a cunning display of super-ripe mocha and toast-infused, jammy black cherry fruit, low acidity, and a savory personality. It appears ready to drink, but will undoubtedly take on more delineation and structure as its ages in the bottle. It is a luxuriously rich, decadent 100% Merlot that will be at its finest between 2004-2015.

Robert Parker | 93 RP
The 1999 Le Pin is a vintage that I have only tasted on one occasion. Fiona Morrison commented that she liked how this is aging, and that is borne out on the surprisingly earthy but fresh and lively nose of blackberry and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This has good density, freshness and balance and gentle grip. It has dispensed with the exoticism that it displayed a decade ago and become more serious and introverted in some ways, yet it has a sense of brightness too. The silky finish is trademark Le Pin and is clearly à point. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the estate.

Vinous Media | 93 VM

Wine Details for 1999 Le Pin

Type of Wine Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend : The inhabitants of the Bordeaux region of France have been cultivating wine-grapes for thousands of years. Ancient Roman ruins litter the vineyards from Saint Emilion to Graves where the art of blending Bordeaux varietals has been practiced and perfected over a very long history. Bordeaux’s climate, terroir and soils, though varied, provide the optimal growing conditions for the red grape varietals planted in the region.

Rarely listed on the labels as “blend,” the red wines of Bordeaux are perhaps the most artfully designed and celebrated in the world. The calculated art of blending the native Bordeaux varietals is impressively accomplished in the most famous winegrowing region in the world. The phrase Bordeaux Blend which seems to have been coined by British wine merchants in the 19th Century relates as much to wines made from the blend as to the grape variety combination itself.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and occasionally Carmenere are the lead characters in the creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. Each plays a part in their own fashion and implemented in various combinations and percentages in each appellation within Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux Blends are majorly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, roughly making up 90% of all Bordeaux Blends. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (occasionally Carmenere) are also important components and vital to the production of the region’s red wines.

For simplicity, the winegrowing region of Bordeaux can be divided into three main appellations producing Red Bordeaux Blends; the Left Bank (Medoc), Right Bank and Pessac-Leognan (Graves). The Left Bank has a terroir comprised of a wide variety of gravel, stones, sand, limestone and clay soils on a natural terrain of gentle slopes. This sets the stage perfectly for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the dominant grape of the Left Bank. For example, Chateau Lafite (Paulliac) is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Right Bank is dominated by clay and limestone with sand and gravel, but the clay in the Right Bank is distinctly its own and adds to the health, growth and vitality of the vines of the varietals grown here. Right Bank wines are typically 80% Merlot-based, which are often denser, richer and mature earlier than those of the Left Bank (with exceptions – Petrus for example). Merlot is a vital component to Pomerol winegrowing and making. Cabernet Franc also plays a major role in the Right Bank, most notably, in Saint Emilion, where the infamous vineyards of Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval Blanc are planted to 55% and 52% Cabernet Franc, respectively. Chateaux that produce wines with a majority of Cabernet Franc are considered “old school” producers, but have perfected the use of Cabernet Franc, which was originally used as a blending grape.

Pessac-Leognan (Graves) enjoys a temperate climate, natural hygrometry influenced by the ocean, and has a terroir composed of gravelly soil over a clay subsoil on sloping, hilly terrain. Natural drainage due to the hilly terrain as well as the gravelly soil structure are perfectly attuned to the Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine, which prospers under these conditions. Pessac reaps the benefits of having the terroir of both the Left and Right Bank as it contains gravel and clay. The clay sub-soil allows the growth and success of Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc. It is home to the only First Growth not in the Medoc. The 50-hectare vineyard of Haut Brion is planted to 45.4% Merlot, 43.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.7% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

The percentage of Petit Verdot and Malbec may be lesser in quantity, but not in quality. They are vital to the region’s creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. The combination of Bordeaux varietals is legendary in the region, around the world and has influenced winegrowers worldwide to plant and vinify wines which resemble those of Red Bordeaux Blends.

Country France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world.



For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide.



France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity.



France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.



With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.


Region Bordeaux : Even among the greatest and most reputable wine regions on the planet, Bordeaux stands above the rest. The winemakers of this region have a single-minded dedication to the fine art of viticulture and their efforts never fail to show. If you consider yourself a fine wine enthusiast, you owe it to yourself to visit Bordeaux - life changing. Whether you wish to drink some inspirational and gripping wine as soon as possible, or you want to add some masterpieces to your collection, no region on Earth is a more obvious choice.

The noble and beautiful Garonne and Dordogne rivers surge through southwestern France, enriching the soil in a way very few other places can boast. The limestone-based earth is rich in calcium, and the almost oceanic climate conditions give the staple Bordeaux grape varietals vigor and flavor like nowhere else. For their illustrious reds, Bordeaux winemakers rely on a proven combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Meanwhile, a sip of their excellent white wine hints at the use of Semillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc.Each of these varietals carries a unique identity, making every quality wine a character piece to rival Citizen Kane. It can be incredibly hard to choose only a few wines to collect for your cellar!
Subregion Right Bank
Appellation Pomerol

Overview

Producer Chateau Le Pin : Chateau Le Pin is one of the youngest estates in Pomerol; however, its owner nor his family are novices in the Bordeaux wine trade. Le Pin’s proprietor, Jacques Thienpont, is the grandson of the famed Georges Thienpont who was owner of Chateau Vieux Chateau Certan and a major contributor to its success and historical significance in Pomerol. Jacques’ cousin, Alexandre Thienpont, is considered one of the most brilliant winemakers in the world.

Le Pin has risen to near mythical status in a relatively short time. This rapid success is greatly attributed to Jacques’ incessant efforts at acquiring neighboring plots as well as his inherent gift of making high quality wine. The original 2-hectare property was in poor condition, the house and cellars dilapidated, but when the sale was complete in 1979, Le Pin was born.

Jacques worked tirelessly to revive the property and cellars, including the purchase of a single, 50 hectoliter, stainless steel vat. He implemented the use of French oak barrels previously used at Vieux Chateau Certan for aging his early wines. The cellar was a small, cool, cement room with the ability to hold only a few rows of barrels; however, it was all that was needed as production was tiny.

The first Le Pin wine debuted in 1979 for 100 French Francs per bottle; though, it was still difficult to find buyers for such a miniscule production of a wine where ironically the supply simply outweighed its demand. Things would change forever when Le Pin’s 1982 vintage received high praise from Robert Parker. From that point forward, the wines of Le Pin would sell for as much, if not more than Bordeaux First Growths.

After the initial purchase of Le Pin’s 2-hectare plot, Jacques continued to add holdings regardless of how tiny they may have been. In 1984, he was successful in purchasing the now famous “7 rows of vines,” located next to his vineyard. This would be a significant acquisition as Le Pin will use only the parcels that are contiguous in the making of its now legendary wine. Even more significant is the fact that Pomerol covered only 750 hectares, divided among 180 producers at the time.

Jacques Thienpont has literally carved out a piece of history in Pomerol. Albeit, a brief history but impressive and deserving of its recognition. The 100% Merlot Le Pin has one of the smallest annual productions (500-600 cases), along with one of the highest price tags. It is virtually impossible to find and when a bottle or two does surface, it is quickly seized from the market. From the perfectly attuned clay soil on the Pomerol plateau, where the Merlot grape thrives on miniscule holdings, to the genius mind of Alexandre Thienpont managing the vineyard, to the diligent and ceaseless efforts of Jacques in making and selling his beloved wine, has indeed propelled Le Pin to its rightful place among the very elite wines.

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